Method of and device for finishing the foot portions of stockings



June 4, 1929. E KLEMM 1,716,066

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR FINISHING THE FOOT PORTIONS OF STOCKINGS (FiledApril 11, 1927 [N V EN TOR.

BY M /k g A TTORNEYS.

Patented June '4, 1929.

UNITED. STA

E-s PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD KLEMMI, OF BOONTON, NEW JERSEY.

I METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR FINISHING THE FOOT IPORTI ONS 0]! STOCKINGS.

Application filed r m 11, 1927. Serial no. 182,679.

My invention relates to a new and improved method of and device forfinishing the footportion of a stocking.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device whereby thefoot portion of a stocking can be completed without injuring the sheerfabric of the body or leg portion of the stocking.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a device for maintainingthe proper tension upon a stocking while the foot portion thereof isbein knit or completed, in which the maximum holding effect will beexerted upon the reinforced edge portions of the stocking while theintermediate and more delicate portions of the stocking will befrictionally held without injury thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hookless holding devicefor the inter-* mediate body portion of a fashioned stocking, to assistin keeping this under proper tension, while the foot portion of'thestocking is being knit or completed.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the followingdescription and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it being understood that the above general statement of theobjects of my invention is intended i erely to generally ex plain thesanrie and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a top view of the improved hold in device. a l Q ig. 2 is afront viewof the device shown inFig. 1.

device. I Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showingthe device in use. I Inmaking a full fashioned stocking,'it is necessary to first knit thebody-or leg portion, thereof and to then knit the foot portion of thestocking in a second machine which'is ordinarily called the footer.

In previously known devices, it wasnecessary to hold the relatively thinand delicate intermediate portion of the leg of the stocking by means ofhooks while the necessary tension was exerted in order to knit the footFig. 3 is a side view of the before mentioned 7 portion of the stockinThis tension caused runs to form-in the t in leg portion of thestocking, directly adjacent the holding hooks,

so that a very large percentage of such stockings which were knit in aplant were found to be defective because runs formed there in and theseruns had to be'repaired before suitable frictional device.

. As shown in Fig. 4,""the stocking is knit 1n the ordinary machine sothat it has outer reinforced heel and sole portions 1. The intermediatebody portion 2 of the leg of the tocking is ordinarily not reinforcedand it i therefore much more delicate than the on or portions 1.

hebody portion 20f the stocking is now removed from the needles of theordinary machine and the meshes thereof are placed 1 upon theneedles Nof the footer. The intermediate leg portion2 of the stocking is passedbetween a bar 3 made of any suitable rigid material, such as steel andthe like, and it is heldinplace by means oflspring clips 4 and 5 r Iwhich exert a frictional holdupon the instep portion of the stocking."The bar 3 is also provided at the ends thereof .with hooks 6; and 7which are caused to enter the reinforced the central portion of thefbar'3 and this strap 8 is connected to any-suitable tension device- 1' suchas a shaft or ulley 10 which is suitably 'turned'by the we known meansin order to exert arolper pull u on the bar 3. a I

The 00 s 6 and are connected to the outer ends of. the bar 3 by means ofscrews 9. As shown in Fig. 3, the s ring clips 4 and 5 are between thehooks an the bar 3 but my invention is not limited to this constructionand if desired, the hooks could be placed internediate the bar 3 and thespring clips 4 an 5.

- portions 1 of the stocking. Anyordinary strap .8 has one end thereofsuitably connected to The spring clips 4 and 5 exert a suflicientfrictional hold upon the instep portion of the stocking to maintain itin the flat condition ,shown in Fig. 4'so as to enable thefoot portionofthe stocking to be properly completed by the needles N. i v i The springclips 4 and 5 serve to clip the intermediate instep portion 2 ofthe'stocking not only at their adjacent or inner ends but also at theiropposite ends adjacent the hooks, so that the pull on the instep portion2 is not concentrated along-a single and relatively median line; Theclips could also be designed: so as to uniformly grip the instep portion2 along the entire width thereof so as to disperse the tension efiect asmuch as possible. 7

Evenif the clips subject the portion of the stocking which they cliptothe same tension of a hook and the knitting can be accomplished morereliably and in a more uniform manner because the instep portion isbeing subjected to tension along a substantial portion thereof and inparticular it is being subjected to tension along lines spaced from themedian line thereof. The spring clips4 and 5 could be extended, ifdesired, so as to extend across the entire width of the foot mem-I I Itwill be noted, however, that the clips 4 'and 5 preferably do not extendover the central part of the bar 3 so that the central part of theinstep portion'of the stocking is relatively free. Hence, the tensionexerted by the strap 8 is confined to the reinforced edge portions ofthe stocking, and to the edge portions of the sheer instep of thestocking. Experience has shown that this causes the stocking to befinished in a more uniform manner and with little or no danger of theformation of runs.

Since'the hooks 6 and 7 positively engage the reinforced edge portionsof the foot member, the direct pull and hence the direct tensionuponsaid reinforced edge portions is greater than the direct tension exertedupon the edge portions of the instep, because the hold of the hooks 6and 7 is positive and of greater force than the frictional hold suppliedby the clips 4 and 5.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is clear thatnumerous changes-and omissions could be made without departing from itsspirit.

I claim 1. In the art of formin the foot member of a fashioned stocking,hat step in the art which consists in maintaining the edge portions ofthe said foot member under direct tension while the knitting thereof isbeing performed, while maintaining the central portion of the saidfoot'member substantially free from any direct tension. 1

2. In the art of forming the foot member of a fashioned stocking havinga reinforced heel 'and sole and a relatively sheer instep, that stepwhich consists in subjecting the reinforced portion of the foot memberand the edge portions of the inste to direct tension while the knittingof the oot member is being performed while maintaining the centralportion of the instep relatively free from direct tension.

' 3. In. the art of forming the foot member of a fashioned stocking,that step in the art which consists in subjecting the reinforced geportions of the foot member to tension while the knitting of the footmember is being performed, and subjecting the relatively sheer innerportion of the foot member to less tension while said knitting is beingperformed.

4.. In combination with a footer machine, a tension bar having hooks atthe ends thereof adapted to engage meshes of a stocking so as to subjectvertical rows of said meshes adjacent said" hooks. totension, frictionclipmeans connected to said tension bar and located intermediate theends thereof, said frictionclip meansbeing adapted to engage othermeshes of the stocking, each of said hooks being adapted to subject avertical row of meshes adjacent thereto, to a tension which is greaterthan-is .caused by said friction clip means upon the individual rows ofmeshes subjected to tension thereby.

5. In combination with a, footer machine, a tension bar having hooks atthe ends thereof adapted to engage meshes of a stocking so as to subjectvertical rows of said meshes adjacent said hooks to tension, frictionclip means connected to said tension bar and located intermediate theends thereof, saidfriction clip means bein adapted to engage othermeshes of the stoc ing, each of said hooks being adapted to subject avertical row of meshes adjacent thereto, to a tension which is greaterthan is caused by said friction clip means upon the individual rows ofmeshes subjected to tension thereby and the inner ends of said frjlctionclip means being spaced from each 0t er.

6. In a footer attachment for knitting machine, a base member, hooksspaced apart on said base member and a yieldingly fabric engaging clampdevice intermediate said hooks.

7 In a footer attachment for knitting machines hook members for engagingthe heel tabs, a clamp having yielding means for engaging the stockingfabric intermediatefthe heel tabs and means for moving said hook membersand said clamp in unison.

8. In a footer attachment for knitting ma- 5 chines means for engagingthe heel tabs and a clamp device including yielding means for engagingthe stocking fabric intermediate the ta s.

9. In a knitting machine attachment, a base plate having heel tabengaging mem- 10 bers spaced apart and a clamping member includingresilient means intermediate said heel tab engaging members foryieldingly engaging the stocking fabric.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' EDWARD KLEMM.

